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SUMMER 

HEALTH and PLAY 

SCHOOL 

The Open Door to Health 
for City Children 




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Health Education No. 3 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
BUREAU OF EDUCATION 

1919 



GOVERNMENT PRiNTINQ OFFiCE 







The SIX DOORS of 
CHILD HEALTH 

1 A scale in every school 

O Time allowed in every school day for the teach- 
" ing of health habits 

3 A hot school lunch available for every child 

A Teachers trained in Normal Schools to teach 

' health habits 

C Every child's weight record sent home on the 

-^ monthly report card 

£ A, thorough physical examination, with the 

^ clothing removed to the waist, at least twice a 
year for all school children 

Demonstrate through the 

Summer Health and Play School 

how your community can open 

the doors of Child Health 



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Courtccy of People's Institute. 

Finding Health, Strength, and Joy Far Above the City Streets. 



THE NEW GOSPEL OF 
CHILD HEALTH 



THE undernourished child has become a dramatic national 
figure, awakening country-wide interest in a new standard of 
child health. In many towns and rural districts a feeding 
experiment for an undernourished group has resulted in a hot lunch for 
the whole school. As simple an undertaking as a weighing contest 
has roused a school board to undertake the keeping of weight 
records in their schools, and the teaching of health habits. Nutri- 
tional classes conducted in clinics and in schools have inspired 
hundreds of teachers to give to all children this new gospel of child 
health. 

The summer demonstration. — It is now late in the school year and 
the communities are asking how to conduct their campaign for 
child health during the summer months. New York started to 
solve its own problem last summer by the development of the 
health play schools for the all-day care of undernourished children. 
Under the leadership of the Federation for Child Study, Hve organi- 
zations conducted seven centers where boys and girls spent the hot 

113773°— 19 1 




Courtesy of Federation for Child Study. 



Some Interesting Hand Work Every Day of the Summer Vacation Helps 
Children, Both Mentally and Physically, 



summer days from 9 in the morning until 5 at night, learning con- 
sciously and unconsciously how to eat, rest, play, bathe, and work. 

The summer vacation of no oenejit to many children. — Thousands 
upon thousands of the city's children every summer get worse 
physically in their vacation instead of better, because of the neglect 
and ignorance of parents — and of the community. 

When the schools are closed and mothers are gone away to work — 
as they have been going in ever-increasing numbers — the children 
do not know what to do with themselves. They swarm in the 
streets and loaf and fight. They do not know what to eat or how — 
and too often they have nothing to eat. Thousands upon thousands 
of them lose weight and become weak in body and in will, and 
grow up into poor specimens of manhood and of womanhood — into 
poor Americans — in short, not at all fit or safe for democracy. 

A solution. — The play schools kept the children off the streets, 
and this alone prevented a vast amount of deterioration. But 
children do not grow by merely being kept. They must be active 
and they must have experience with all kinds of things — including 
people. Therefore the play schools gave the opportunity for play 
and for work. 



n. tf 1. 

iUL 3 1919 




Courtesy of Federation for Child Study. 

Careful Supervision of Play Protects the Undernourished Child From the 
Expenditure of Too Much Energy, 



Keeping the Kiddies Happy 

The activities. — The youngest children had the kindergarten, 
plus the inspiration of enthusiastic volunteers and a free atmosphere. 

Girls as well as boys made toys and useful objects in the wood 
shop. Boys as well as girls made baskets and frames and pictures 
and lamp shades and other objects of use and beauty, under the 
guidance of arts and crafts teachers. The girls sewed and knitted — 
not merely for practice and not merely for themselves. They made 
dresses and caps, and Red Cross supplies, and sweaters and blanket 
squares and scarfs. And the older boys learned to cobble shoes 
to their own satisfaction (and the teacher's), and so saved money 
for their families. 

The children sang and danced and dramatized and heard stories 
and read them. They played games in small groups and in large 
ones, indoors and outdoors, organized and free. They went forth 
on excursions and saw something of the world beyond the end of 
the street. And they were happy. 




Courtesy of Federation for Child Study. 

The Wor\ Periods Should Be Carefully Arranged to Save the Children From 

Overstrain. 



But food is an essential, and so the play schools fed the children. 

Food and food hahits. — Every day at noon a luncheon of approxi- 
mately a thousand calories was served, prepared under the direction 
of an expert dietitian. In the afternoon they had milk with 
crackers. After lunch there was a rest hour, often with sleep for the 
younger children, with quiet games and reading for the older ones. 

This appropriate nourishment was of immediate benefit to the 
children. To insure proper feeding and living habits in the years 
to come, this work had to be educational as well as nutritional. The 
children took part in setting the table and in serving the food; they 
learned something of decorum and cooperation; and they learned 
something of the composition of a meal; and they learned to like 
proper food. 

Quite as important as the day-by-day feeding was the education 
of the homes through the daily experience of the children. And 
in addition to this, special appeal was made to the mothers. 

How to recruit the pioneers. — Through the medical school records 
of the board of health the names of children suffering from malnu- 
trition were secured so that before the closing of the schools in June 




Courtesy of People's Institute. 

Girls and Boys Both Quickly Learn How to Handle Tools. 



these children might be invited to join the health play centers. 
Care was taken not to let membership be in any way a stigma, for 
the children were made to feel that they were pioneers in working 
out the rules of this new game, the great game of health, which 
children are being asked to play throughout the whole country — 
the whole world. 

Correction of 'physical defects. — Before the opening of the health 
play school every child was given a thorough physical examination 
so that those suffering from physical defects might have treatment 
as soon as possible. For such treatment the children needed a 
moderate-priced or free medical service. But it was possible to secure 
this for only a small percentage of children in the case of dental and 
eye work, and in adenoid and tonsil removal, thus revealing the great 
need of a further extension of such service in New York City. In 
most American communities an adequate low-priced and free medical 
service for the correction of physical defects of school children is 
a crying need which the health play school can help to demonstrate. 

Thorough physical examination. — Another service which it can 
render is to show the need of a more thorough physical examination 
than can be usually given through medical school inspection. Few 
schools are equipped with scales or tape measures, and the children 
are usually examined fully dressed, though all doctors recognize the 
importance of examining children without clothes. 




Courtesy of People's Institute. 

Future Mothers, No Seatless Chairs Will Be Found in Their Homes. 



No formal name was given to the children of these centers, but 
they quickly christened them the " Health Schools." 

Teaching the rules of the game. — The kindly doctor who knew "just 
how to talk to children" told them what foods were good and what 
were bad for growing children. The smiling nurse who weighed 
them once a week helped them keep a daily health record of just 
what they ate, how long they slept, etc., and made out a wall chart 
for each child, showing the number of pounds underweight, the 
weekly normal gain and the actual gain. Every other week the 
children met in groups with the doctor and nurse to talk about the 
losses on the charts. The mothers, too, were invited to attend these 
nutrition classes so that they might share with their children these 
lessons on health. The doctor's advice took on a real meaning 
when both child and mother saw that the weight line remained 
stationary or even dropped as long as the child was constipated, 
drank coffee or tea, went to bed too late at night, or failed to have 
adenoids removed or teeth filled. The study of these charts in the 
group at once made more marked the individual gain or loss and at 
the same time took away any sting of personal failure and brought 
in the wholesome spirit or rivalry. 




Courtesy of People's Institute. 

The Little Children Benefit by Lots of Free Play in the Open Air, 



During the school day the children put into practice many of the 
rules of health learned in the nutritional clinic. At the noonday meal 
they learned to eat new foods, and food in proper quantity. At 
the daily shower the pleasures of cleanliness were discovered. Such 
daily practices as the hour's rest after the noonday meal, the drinking 
of water between meals, the washing of hands and face before eating, 
built up health habits. 



Watching the Undernourished Child 

The work and play of the school was carefully planned so as to 
give the children stimulation of new interests and free expression, 
but care was taken that the children's effort did not exceed their 
physical strength, the fact always being kept in mind that the under- 
nourished child trying to put on weight and height can not give out 
the same energy as the normal child. Cobbling, chair caning, 
basketry, shopwork, and knitting were taught by teachers skilled in 
securing good workmanship plus individual expression. Singing, 




Courtesy of People's Institute. 

The Serving of the Hot School Lunch Can Be Planned to Interest the Children 
in "How" and "What" to Eat. 



group games, and interpretative dancing built up the play spirit and 
helped the children to understand what the doctor meant when he 
said that " Health means fulness of life." 

The children's actual scale record for a two months' period is not so 
significant as the spirit that was built up in the schools. The careful 
organization of the day, the routine performance of certain health 
duties, the rotation of activities so as to interest but not weary, the 
order underlying the freedom, banished lassitude and relaxed over- 
strained nerves. Almost unconsciously the children learned the 
meaning of health and how to work for it. 

Direct work in the homes. — To reinforce the health influence of 
the summer school, the nurse made visits in the home to interest the 
mother and to give her individual teaching and advice. These home 
visits also revealed causes of failure to gain which could not be learned 
from the child in the school. 

A distinctive plan. — Now, all the things the play school did had 
been done before in detail. Bat what we tried for was the child's 
complete and normal life. We did not want to offer fragmentary 
benefits, but a whole. We were trying to make the whole day 




Courtesy of Dr. Charles Hendee Smith— Bellevue Hospital. 

The Children Meet in Groups Once a Week to Learn the "Rules of the Game,' 
Discussing Their Weight Charts With Doctor and Nurse, 



worth while and wholesome for every child, instead of providing a 
few hours of health or happiness and ignoring the rest of the day. 
Furthermore, the work was carried on by no one single agency. 
No existing agency can possibly give the child all he should have. 
For a whole day of wholesome living the child needs the services of 
many institutions and organizations. The fullest cooperation of 
public and private organizations also serves the twofold purpose of 
reducing the cost to any one organization and of focusing the atten- 
tion of many groups on the demonstration. 

Varied Interests of Play Schools 

How varied were the interests of the groups contributing to the 
success of the play schools may be seen from the following: 

The Board of Education gave the use of two school buildings, the 
use of a kitchen, two woodworking shops, and baths in public-school 
buildings, steamer chairs, and kindergarten supplies. The board 
also furnished 39 teachers. 

The Department of Health sent the district nurses of its children's 
bureau for home visiting and for follow-up clinical cases. 

The Department of Gharities secured free transportation for the 
children's outings through the public-service corporations. 







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Courtesy of Federation for Child Study. 



77?e Children Await Their Weekly Weighing With the Keenest Interest and 

Rivalry. 



The settlements gave the use of their plants for three centers, one 
of which they financed and operated. 

The Academy of Medicine, through a special committee of doctors, 
arranged for the medical examinations and for general medical 
supervision. . 

The public library furnished story tellers and loaned hooks. 

The Federation of Child Study financed and operated one center and 
provided a supervisor to assist in the organization of other centers. 

The Ethical Culture Society financed and operated two centers. 

The Mayor's Committee of Women financed and operated one center, 

The People's Institute financed and operated a center. 

The Educational Dramatic League financed and operated one center. 

The Y. W. C. A. gave the use of a plant. 

The Red Cross gave supplies of many kinds. 

A school lunch committee loaned equipment for serving the lunches. 

A community Icitchen purchased, prepared, and distributed the 
food for the children's lunches. 

The People's Music League furnished a leader for choral singing, 
with accompanist, in five centers. 



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Courtesy of Federation for Child Study. 

<<4n Hour's Rest After the Noonday Meal Is a Vital Part of the Program. 

Individual cooperation secured the use of private automobiles for 
taking children to clinics, etc., and special donations from individuals 
made it possible to charter busses by the day. 

The women's clubs secured volunteers. 

The social-welfare organizations cooperated in improving the living 
conditions in some of the homes by securing employment, etc. 

DAILY PROGRAM AT HEALTH SCHOOLS. 



For 


younger girls (8 to 11 years): 








9.00 to 10.00. 


Dancing. 


For boys (8 to 11 years): 


10.00 to 10.15. 


Milk and crackers. 


9.00 to 10.00. 


Shop work. 


10.15 to 10.30. 


Games on roof. 


10.00 to 10.15. 


Milk and crackers. 


11.30 to 12.00. 


Shower baths. 


10.15 to 12.00. 


Games in the yard. 


12.00 to 12.45. 


Lunch. 


12.00 to 12.45. 


Lunch. 


12.45 to 


1.45. 


Rest on the roof. 


12.45 to 


1.45. 


Rest hour in the gymna- 


1.45 to 


3.00. 


Handwork: Making toys, 






sium. 






knitting bags, chair 


1.45 to 


2.15. 


Shower baths. 






caning, basketry. 


2.15 to 


3.00. 


Games in yard. 


3.00 to 


3.15. 


Milk. 


3.00 to 


3.15. 


Milk and crackers. 


3.15 to 


5.00. 


Games. 

Singing twice a week. 

Nutritional class once a 

week. 
Story hour twice a week. 


3.15 to 


5.00. 


Games or handwork: Toy 
making, cobbling, chair 
caning. 

Singing twice a week. 

Nutritional class once a 
week. 



11 



Organization of volunteer service. — A salaried director was in charge 
of each center, and professionals, either volunteer or paid, directed 
the various activities, but as far as possible intelligent laymen were 
used as volunteers. 

. Most of the volunteer work was done by women who had only a 
few hours a week to give; but by registering the available time in 
advance, it was possible to make detailed assignments, avoid loss of 
time, and utilize all to best advantage. 

The cost. — Every year in our city thousands of children are sent 
away for a two-weeks' outing. The A. I. C. P. of New York allows 
as an average $5 a week per child as the cost of such a holiday. It 
is interesting to compare this with the per capita cost of $17.72 for 
the health-play school, which cares for children for a two-months' 
period. In considering this per capita cost it must be borne in mind 
that there was much volunteer service and that the board of educa- 
tion bore the expense of 39 teachers. 

Conclusion — Results. — It has been repeatedly shown that a large 
part of our child population suffers regularly from malnutrition. 
We have seen that a large part of the juvenile delinquency arises 
from the neglected leisure of the children. The play schools have 
shown the feasibility of dealing with the children's health and with 
their leisure time in an organization that adequately handles both. 
The play schools have shown the feasibility of utilizing a variety of 
civic agencies for the promotion of the health and the education of 
the children at a comparatively low cost to the community. And 
they have shown that it is possible to carry the educational results 
of dealing with children into the homes much more effectively than 
is usually done. The net results of such coordination of activities 
is the preservation of the young citizens — the human resources of 
the community — and their assimilation into the ways of civilized life. 



A Challenge to You! 



In building up the health of the undernourished child you but play 
up in bold relief the needs of all school children. Where the com- 
munity service fails the undernourished child, it also fails all children. 
Let the play-health school demonstrate to your community the vital 
points where the development of the individual child is dependent 
upon community action. 

o 



12 




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